As a kid, Jacquelyn Seigle always enjoyed strength-based sports such as gymnastics. So it came as little surprise that when she needed physical therapy after a skiing accident in 2013, the strength-based exercises she now loves piqued her interest.

Once she had healed, Seigle, the Associate School Director a College View Middle School, said she wanted to continue lifting weights.

“I ended up booking some time with a personal trainer so I could stay mobile with the rest of my body, and he had me doing barbell squats about 8 months post-op,” she said. “I was hooked!”

Eighteen months later, Seigle began a formalized powerlifting program and has since competed in three state-level competitions. Powerlifting consists of three movements: squat, deadlift, and bench press. Seigle said those lifts focus on using the biomechanics of your body in the most efficient ways possible. The “big lifts,” she said, are designed to work a large amount of muscles at once, which leads to significant gains in overall strength. Powerlifting also increases your bone density, prevents injury, and improves coordination and balance.

“I lifted heavy throughout my entire pregnancy and credit that with how well my core recovered from pregnancy and childbirth,” she said.

In addition to the physical benefits, Seigle is having fun with her powerlifting hobby. She’s done three competitions and works with a coach. Plus, the lessons she’s learning as a powerlifter are things she can apply to her work at school.

“There are a ton of parallels between the two,” Seigle said. “Sometimes, when you are working on a lift, there are minor corrections you need to consistently implement for several weeks to see a change, similar to how a teacher and coach would approach a particular instructional practice. Other times, when working on a lift, you need to drop the weight and start all over again. Sometimes in teaching, this the right call, like when you need to rework your entire approach to a unit, standard, or classroom culture.”

Interested in trying powerlifting? Seigle recommends finding a trainer so you learn proper form and move safely. And once you get the basics down, the physical and mental benefits will follow.

“Powerlifting teaches you that it’s OK to start over again and that there is always something you can improve,” she said.